THE TOP 25 STORIES FROM VCU ATHLETICS IN 2011-12 - #12 - BURGESS SETS NCAA RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE STARTS

Jun 21, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. – With the 2011-12 athletic calendar
complete for VCU, we here at VCUathletics.com thought we would try
to recap what was a year full of thrills, excitement and another
year of growth for the movement known as Ram Nation.

After a long debate, some wrestling matches and name-calling,
our crew came up with the top-25 stories from VCU Athletics in
2011-12, which we will unveil one-by-one of the course of the next
25 business days (Monday-Friday).

If you have any thoughts or comments, our Twitter handle is
@VCUAthletics, we’d love to hear from
you.

Today, we look at #12 on our countdown.

#12 - Burgess becomes NCAA Hoops Iron Man

Think about all the people that have played college hoops over the
years. Nearly all the NBA greats laced them up on the NCAA
hardwood. VCU senior Bradford Burgess did something that NONE of
them ever did, becoming the all-time leader in consecutive starts
with 146 over his four years as a Ram.

Burgess, known as "Big Shot Brad", to Ram Nation finished just
one start shy of the all-time leader for total starts (Duke's Kyle
Singler with 147), but the consecutive starts streak was smashed
with the Midlothian, Va. native finishing four ahead of Patrick
Ewing's old record of 142 (Kansas' Danny Manning was second with
141).

He finished his VCU career ranked fourth all-time in points with
1,684. He is just the third player in school history to score 1,600
points, grab 700 rebounds and dish out 200 assists, joining only
Kendrick Warren and Charles Wilkins.

Representing your country at any level is a unique opportunity
that few even get a chance to compete for, but that's exactly what
two freshmen on the VCU track & field squad earned this
spring.

The Rams track & field program has been on the rise over the
past few years and newcomers Kiara Porter and Brandon Ruffin proved
that VCU's future is even brighter with both earning invitations to
the 2012 USA Junior Outdoor Championships last week.

Porter competed in the 400-meter, finishing fourth and earning a
spot on the USA 4x400 junior world team that will compete in
Barcelona in July. Ruffin tossed both the shot put and discus in
Indianapolis, becoming the first Ram in school history to earn a
spot in two events at the USA Junior Championships.

VCU's defense was a critical part of its success in 2011.
The Rams settled in during the last month of the season reeling off
10 straight games without a loss, including VCU's 1-0 semifinal
victory against Northeastern in the CAA Tournament. The Black
& Gold allowed just three goals during that stretch and held an
opponent scoreless eight times.

As part of their impressive finish, the Rams matched their longest
CAA regular season unbeaten streak since 2005 (nine games).
That stretch also helped VCU to a second-place regular season
finish, the school's best in six years. VCU took its 10-match
unbeaten streak into its CAA Championship game against William
& Mary on Nov. 6, before falling to the 20th-ranked Tribe in an
overtime heartbreaker, 1-0.

#15 - Nearly 30 student-athletes earn degrees

Each year, Ram Nation celebrates hundreds of victories,
championships, all-conference awards and much more. However, the
main purpose of Ram Nation and its athletic department is to
support the nearly 275 student-athletes in their quests to earn
their college degree.

Mark 2011-12 as another successful year in that category with
nearly 30 student-athletes making the walk across the stage and
picking up their degrees from VCU.